Means for attaching an element to a post



' appended claims.

Patentgd Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE,

FBEIDERICK A. BAILOTJ', J'B. OF PROVIDENCE, RHIODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 B. A. BALLO'U & CO. ING, O1 IBOVIIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 'A GORIPOBA'I'ION OF RHODE ISLAND.

MEAJN'S IE'OB ATTA.CHING AN ELEMENT 'I'O A POST.

Ap p1ication flled Iay 11, 1925. .Serial N0. 29,634.

'This invention relates to an improved means for readily removably attaching stud and socket or male and female members or the like; and has f01 its object to pr0v1de means whereby the members may be quickly attached and detached and yet one by which the same may be securely locked together.-

A further object of this invention is to provide one of the surfaces of the interengaging stud and socketmembers with abutments und means in the other of said manabers for engaging said abutments.

A still further object of this invention 1s to provide the snrface of the stud with a series of abutments distributed about its surface, and the socket member with means for engaging the diflerent abi1trnents on the stud to prevent its accidental removal therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is t0 provid co-operating means b tween the stud and socket members to permit the same to be slid axially together and yet be pre vented from being withdrawn by a similar axial movement in the opposite direction irrespective of the relative rotative positions of the members, the members being remov.- able only by a rotating 01' oscillating movement combined with a relative endways movement.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel feature's 0f construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating one for1n of device constructed to accomplish the objects 0f this invention.

Figure 2 is a section 0n line 22 of F igure l, illustrating one arrangement ofthe notches fdrmed in the surface of the stud member.

Figure 3 is a "iew similar to Figure 2 through a difl'erent series of notches.

Figure 4 is a plan view 0f the socket memher with one of its plates removed illustrating' a pair of spring arme which are' ada)pted t0 snap into engagement with the various notches in the stand member of the deyice.

Fi u rg 5 is g), ggapl: 1 opal s;de elevatxon ll-.

lustrating the arms of the sbcket iriember as engagmg the notches in the'stud member.

Figure 6 is a sectional view 0n line 66- of Figure 1 showing the arms of he socket member as engaging the notches plate having a Single abu tment engaging Portion. i

Figure. 8 is another form of socket mem her er fastening element in Which a springpressed p1n isemployed for engaging the notches of the stud member.

F igure 9 is a face view 0f another modificatwn of the socket member 01 fastening element havmg three engaging arms a1"- ranged in thirds about the stud member re-' ceiv1ng opening.

F igure 10 is a transverse sectional view of the stud member ha ving notches arranged 110 cooperate v with and receive the arms a1- ranged 1n thirds about the stud member opemng.

Figure 11 is a side levation showing a modified construction of the formation of abutments on the stud member.

F igure 12 shows still another form of socket member in which the engagirig arms are formed 0f spring wire. V

It is found in the practical construction and operation of -a so-called threaded shank and nut construction of fastening means, in many instances, that the sctewing of a. threaded nut onto a threaded shank requires considerable loss of time and becomes easilv detached from the moving p'arts' with whiclx it may be in working engagement; also in the stud member, these arms be1ng formed shorter togethel' With. its extended len gth, I 'have formed a socket memb'er or fastening element which has the combined advantages of the security of the nut and the quick action of the clutchwithout the disadvantages o'f either. T0 accomplish these results in a simple and effective way, I have formed 01 arranged a set of abutments about the surface of the stud member of the device, which may be engaged by resilient means carried and at the same time are prevented from a withdrawing movement except by; a combined relative rotating and axial motion.

Further, by my improved constru ction the engaging portions in the socket member when snapped into engagement with the different shoulders 01 abutments are yieldingly retained from movement in any direction thus locking the me1nbers together, the same being adapted to be quickly positioned Without a rotating action and as quickly withdrawn by a combinecl rotating ancl axial action; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodimnt of my invention showing one construction by which these advantageous results may be accom plishedz With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the'stucl 01 male member of the device, whieh is provided with a head 11 at one end and which is preferably pointed slightly at its opposite end 12 to more reaclily enter the receiv1ng opening in the fennale 0r socket member.

The surface 0f this stud is provided with a series 01: abutments 14 Wl1ich are herein shown as being formed by notches or recesses 13 forined in the surface 0f the post, those herein shown being arranged in axially disposed series, the series of notches in one row being arranged in staggered relati0n with the notches in the next adjacent rows on either sicle thereof and parallel rows or series are alt-ernately arranged about the circumferential surfaceof the stud to overlap each other laterally, that is the outer edges of the series of notches 13 overlap the outer adjacent edges of the notches of the aclj acent series 13". v 1

These notches are preferably shaped each with a square shoulder or abutting Wall 14 which is preferably at right angles to the axis of the post and on the side of the notch elosest its pointed end 12 or opposite its head end 11. The bottom of the notches are concaved and arranged at an acute angle to the abutment 14 and inclined outanilly Q1 tqward the surface of the: 0st and in the d1rection cf the head. 11. T e inclined wall provides a means causing the resilient means Of the socket member to slide down towarcl the abutment and to hause a step-by-step separating movement of the members when rotated, w hile the concavit of the Wall pro-v vides inclined side walls 0 the notches' or a means for preventing a relative rotation of the members and a means for flexing the resilientmeans of the socket member to ermit a relative axial movement of the mein er.

In order to provide a female or socket member which 1s provided with means for yieldably engaging these notches and which may be quickly positioned on the stud mem ber and readily withdrawn therefrom, I have shown one form in Figures 1 and 5 as being constructed of three plates 16. 17 and 18 having an opening t0 permit the assage of the stucl member therethrough, the intermediate plate 17 b-eing shaped to provide resilient means in the form of a pair of spring arme 19, each having an end portion 20 extending into the central opening for the purpose of yieldingly engaging any of the presented recesses 13 formed in the stud member as the socket member of the device is applied thereto, by which construction it will be seen that this socket member may be forcecl axially onto the stud, the inclination 0f the recesses in the sl1ank perrnitting these arrns 19 to snap into the various recesses in being positioned theredn, the square Walls 0r shoulclers 14 of these recesses eflectually preventing a Inovement of the nut in the opposite o1 detaching direction and the side Walls of the notches servmg as a means to cause the resilient means to move out of the notches by a relative rotation 0f the members. Therefore it will be seen that in order to remove this socket rnember fr0m its position on the stud, it is necessary to impart a relatively slight rotation to carry these arme laterally out of engagernent with their notches and as the notches of the next adjacent row are staggerecl and arranged axially in a difl5ereiit plane, a movement of the arme from a notch in one row to a; notch in the next rown-aturally necessitates o1 causes a relative endways movement 01 the mernber as these dif ferent rows are staggered or out of alignment witl1 each other; also as the notches hzive an inclined. wall 15 against wnich the inhere-nt spring in the arms press radially, they are caused to slide down this incline into engagernent with the abutment of the notches in the next adjacent ro'w, and lilawise a continued rotative movemeflt Will cause the arms to move step by step into the diiferent adjacerit rows thereby' permitting and causing an axial advancing movement in combination with a relative I'Otating motion i p ed thretm Il: will be seen from the above arrangement of these difl'erent rows of nqtChes that are engaged by the spring arms of the Socket interen aging movement irrespective of their 1 e ative rotative'positions' about their ax1s.

It will also be seen by my lmproved construction which is well illustrated in Figure 6, that the pressure of the ends 20 of these arms serves to grip and causes them to snap into the concave recesses of the stud and thereby serve as a detent and ofi'er frictional resistanceto the 'rotation of this socket membei so as to prevent the same from bein moved from any adjusted osition.

Figure 7 shows a modification'of a single plate which is provided with an engaging protuberance 21 adapted to enter the notches of the stud. This p-late is split as at 22 to permit sufiicient yieldability to caus e the grotuberance to snap into the various notehes ormed in the stud when positioned thereon.

Another construction is illustrated in Figure 8 in which a spring-pressed pin 23 has its end pofcion 24 projecting into osition to engage the difl'erent notches of the stud when the socket member 25 is positioned thereon. Another modification as illustrated in Figure 9 is similar t0 that illustrated i n Figure 4 butwhich instead of having two diametrically oppositely disposed arms, 'is

shown as being provided with three arme 26 located at substantially 120 apart, in the proper operation of which construction it will be necessary to similarly arrange the notches 27 as. shown in Figure 10, in groups, the notches in eaeh groupbeing 120 apart.

I have herein Shown a number of difl'erent designs of socket 0r female members but I do not wish to be limited to ny 0f the particular arrangementsof the arms or engaging members in these diflerent elements as any suitable arrangement of such engaging or gripping memb6rs in this socket member which may be snapped into engagement with the different abutments on the stud member, will fall Within the spirit and scope of this invention, neither do I wish to be limit-ed to the notches as projections may be formed on the stud, as illustratecl at 30, in Figure 11, which projections form' abutments 31 coop 'erating with and acting similarly to these abutments 14, above described.

I have used in the claims the term a device of the eharcter described and by this term I mean any male member such 'as a, post, pin, stud, shank, tube or the like in combination with any female member having an opening or reeess to recejve the s e, such as a nut, washer, socket member, o: l ther fastening element, each' of these being provided with co0perating meansbegether; und by the term socket I mean any member having an openin through it or a recess in it t0receive a stu or the like.

'My improved fastening device may be employed for widely varying uses such as for. instance, in the jeWelry line, aS the provision of a readily rernovable securing nut on the shank 0f a lapel button;in a cufl' butt'on and numerous kindred articles, or in a widely diiferent field it m ay be employed to provide a quick detachable nut or fastening 'nnemler forsecuring artillery wheels to an axle. Its use is not restricted to any particular dass o1 trade or articles. One of it-s advantages is that the nut or socket may be formed extremely thin to take up-theminitweer1 them to remdvably attach the tw o tomnm amount'of space and still preserve its 'gged from its post o1 shank. This device also possesses the greatly desired features of beih quickly attached, s'ecurely held and read1ly detached without a complete screwing action upon the parts.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction il1ust-rated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined' and -limited only by the -terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising interengaging s tud and socket mernber s means carried by one of said rnembe'rs, ncl Ineans 'carried by the other of said membrs t o be 'engaged by die first sai'd means irrespective of the relative rotative positio1is 'of seid members, seid means cooperating to permit said members to be attached by. an axial m0vement in one direction and move'd in the opposife axial direction only b v a relative rota-tive nnovement in either direction.

2. A device of the character described comprising interengaging stud und socket members, resilient means carried by one 0f said members, and means caflied by the other of said members to be engaged by said resilient means irrespective of the relative rotative position of said members, said mean-s cooperating 130 permit 'said members to be attached by an axial movement and cause d to be separated by a relative potative mo'vement in either directio-n.

the othet of said memb(ers to be Zangged b seid resilient meens irrespective of the reletive rotetive osition of seid members end prevent relative axial movement in oned1- rection, end meens for ceusing seid res1l1ent meens to flex by e relative rotetive movement of seid members'to permit e relative exiel movement thereof in the seid direction. 4. A device of the cherecter described comprising intetengaging stud end socket members, resilient meens carried by one of seid members, speed staggered ebutrnenl. meens cerried by the other 0f seid members to be engeged by seid resilient meens end prevent relative exiel movement in one direction, end meens for ceusing seid resilient meens to flex by e relative rotetive move ment of seid members to permit e relative exiel m0vement thereof in the seid direction. 1

. comprising interengeging std end socket members, resilient meens carried by one ot' seid members, speced steggered ebutment meens cerried by the other of seid members end loceted.to be engeged by seid resilient meens-upon interengegement of seid members irrespective of their reletive rotetive positions ebout their exes.

6. A device 0f the cherecter described comprising interengeging stud end socket members, resilient meens cerried by one oi' seid members. ebutrnent meens cerried by the other of seid members t0 be engeged by seid resilient meens, end meens coopereting With seid resilient meens for ceusing e sepereting movement of seid members by e relative rotetive movement thereof in either direction.

7 A device of the cherectr described comprising interengeging stud end socket members, resilient meens cerried by one 01 seid members, speced steggered ebutment meens cerried by the other of seid members to be engeged by seid resilient meens, end meens coopereting with seid resilient meens for ceusing e sepereting movement of seid members by e relative rotetive movement thereof.

8. A device of the cherecter described comprising interengeging stud end socket members, resilient meens cerried by one of seid mernbers, ebutment meens cerried by the other of seid members to be engeged by seid resilient meens, end meens coopereting with seid resilient meens for "ceusing e step-by-step sepereting movement of seid members upon. e relative rotetive movement thereof.

9. A device of the cherecter desqribed comprising interengziging stud end sbcket members, resilient meeris cerried by one 0f seid members, ebutment meens cerried by the other of seid members to be engeged by seid resilient meens, end meens coopereting with seid resilient meens for ceusinge step-by-stq relative exiel movement cf. the members upon e relative rotetive movem6nt thereof in either direction. Y

10. A device of the cherecter described comprising interengeging stud end socket members,the surfece 0f one of seid members being provided w-ith e plurelity of spaced ebutments errenged in steggered overlepping reletion, end meens crried by the other of seid members for engeging seid ebutments to releesebly lock seid members together.

11. A device of the cherecter described comprising interengeging stud end socket members, e plurelity f parallel rows of ebutments cerried by one of seid members, the ebutments of one row being steggered relatively to end overlepping the ebutments of the next row, end meens cerried by the other of seid members for engeging seid ebutments to prevent disengegement of seid members in one direction.

12. device of the cherecter described rompr1sing e stud circuler in cross section end heving e plurelity of notches therein errenged in steggered overlepping reletion, e socket member heving an opening to receive seid stud, resilient meens cerried by V by the other of seid members t0 be engeged by seid resilient meens irrespective of the relative rotetive Position 0f seid meens ebout their exes, end meens edjecent seid ebutments for engeging seid resilient meens to prevent e relative roteting movement 0f seid members when seid resilient meens ere in engegement with seid ebutment meens.

14. A device of the cherecter described comprising interengeging st:1d end socket members, notches in the surfece of one of seid members errenged in steggered reletion end eech heving an ebutment well, resilient meens in the other of seid members for engeging seid notches, seid notches heving e bottom well inclinetl tovverds seid ebutment t0 ceuse seid resilient meens to move tovverds seid ebutment.

15'. A device of the cheracter described, comprising e stud heving ecute engulerlysheped notches therein with one well substentielly et right engles to its exis end errenged in speced staggered reletion, e member heving an opening edepted to receive seid stud, resilient meens cerried by seid member for entering seid notches to prevent seid member from being moved in one direction but yielding end permitting seid memher to be moved exielly in the opposite directioi1.

16. A device of the cherecter described,

comprising a stud member having acute angularly-shaped notches therein with one Wall substantia'lly at right angles to its axis, the notches being arranged in rows those in one row being staggered with relation to those in the next row, a socket memher having an opening adapted to receive said stud member, resilient means earried by said socket member projecting into said opening and adapted to enter said notches and engage said right angular all to prevent a relative axial movement of said members in one direction, said resilient means being slidable in said notches along the inclined Wall thereof t0 permit a relative axial movement cf said members in the opposite direction.

17. An article' cf manufacture having a head and a Shank ortion, the latter having a pluralit of notches arranged in staggered relation a out its surface, each notch having an abutting Wall on the far side from said head, and a fastening element having an opening to receive said shank and provided with a yielding member for releasably engaging said notches whereby said element may be removed from said shank only by a. combined relative rotating and. axial movement.

18. A stud having notehes therein shouldered 130 form an abutment toward one end 0f the stud and inclined to the surface of said stud toward the opposite end, said notches being arranged in longitudinal rows with the notches" in one r0w intermediate the notches in the next row.

19. A stud having hotches therein. shouldered to form an abutment toward one end of the stud and inclined to the surface Cf said stud toward -the opposite end, said notches being arranged in longitudinal rows with the notches in one row intermediate the notches in the next row, said notches in adjacent rows overlapping whereby there is no uncut surface on said stud for the full longitudinal length thereof.

20. A device of the character described comprising a stud cireular in cross section and having a plurality of notches therein arranged in staggered overlapping relation, a socket member having an opening to receive said stud, and a late having integral resilient arms carried y said socket membei, seid arms engaging said notches to lock said members in engagement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK A. BALLOU, JR. 

